Kim Escherich (IBM Executive Innovation Architect, Sensor Solutions): “The symbiosis of language and technology is in rapid growth today. Being able to use, understand, and communicate with the technology through our local languages imposes high demands on Danish research and development in language technology.”

Sabine Kirchmeier-Andersen (Manager Dansk Sprognævn): “If we have the ambition to use the Danish language in the technological universe of the future, an effort must be made now to maintain and further develop the knowledge and expertise that we already have. This emerges from the META-NET report with great clarity. Otherwise we run the risk that only people who are fluent in English, will profit from the new generations of web, mobile and robot technology which are up and coming.”

This Volume

The Series

Preface

This white paper is part of a series that promotes knowledge about language technology and its potential. It addresses journalists, politicians, language communities, educators and others. The availability and use of language technology in Europe varies between languages. Consequently, the actions that are required to further support research and development of language technologies also differ. The required actions depend on many factors, such as the complexity of a given language and the size of its community.

META-NET, a Network of Excellence funded by the European Commission, has conducted an analysis of current language resources and technologies in this white paper series. The analysis focuses on the 23 official European languages as well as other important national and regional languages in Europe. The results of this analysis suggest that there are tremendous deficits in technology support and significant research gaps for each language. The given detailed expert analysis and assessment of the current situation will help maximise the impact of future research.

As of November 2011, META-NET consists of 54 research centres in 33 European countries. META-NET is working with stakeholders from economy (software companies, technology providers and users), government agencies, research organisations, non-governmental organisations, language communities and European universities. Together with these communities, META-NET is creating a common technology vision and strategic research agenda for multilingual Europe 2020.